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Writing in the Daily Mail, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has offered reasons for the move, and says he has arranged today’s meeting to brief teachers’ representatives on “the scientific advice underpinning our approach”.

“The best place for youngsters to learn is in school and I have wanted to get more children back there as soon as possible,” he wrote, saying while parents had done a good job in helping children learn, “nothing can take the place of a teacher”.

Mr Williamson said if scientific advice said a “limited number” of children could be sent back to school, it was his duty to allow this to happen.

“Of course safety comes first but we must also be aware of the potential damage to a child’s education from not getting them back in the classroom,” he wrote.

Mr Williamson said younger children would be at the head of the queue to return to school first, since “the first few years of a child’s education are so important” for developing social skills and starting to learn the basics of an education.

Pupils transitioning to secondary school, and those approaching GCSEs and A levels would also take priority.

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The Education Secretary assured teachers and parents the envisaged June 1 returns would be the first phase of a “controlled and careful” return to schooling which would involve a range of protective measures.

These would include keeping class sizes small, making sure children stayed within small groups, observing strict hygiene and cleaning measures, and having breaks and mealtimes staggered to reduce crowding.

Mr Williamson was writing after National Education Union joint secretary Mary Bousted said a “wider opening of schools, too early, poses a lot of unanswered questions about the risks in poor communities”.

Writing for the Mail Mr Williamson said: "The good news is that we are now past the peak of the virus."

He added: "It is known that the first few years of a child’s education are so important. It is during this time that young students begin to develop essential social skills and start to learn the basics that will have a huge bearing on how well they do later in life.

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"That is why younger children are at the head of the queue to go back to school, along with pupils who will be moving up to secondary school and those older pupils who are going to be sitting their GCSEs and A Levels next year.

"Now I want to be clear, this is the first phase of a controlled and careful return to school. It’s not happening overnight and it isn’t going to happen without schools putting in place a range of protective measures to reduce transmission. The safety of children and their teachers is my No 1 priority.

He pointed out that schools in other countries have reopened, adding: "All of us in education have a duty to work together to get children back to school."

Mr Wiliamson said schools will be given guidance on stopping the spread of coronavirus - including keeping children in small groups, small class sizes, rigorous hygiene and staggered break times."

He said: "Children thrive and grow in schools best when they’re enjoying being with their friends and teachers.

"It is time to start bringing some of our children back in the interests of their welfare and education.

"But this will be done carefully so it’s right for our children, right for your family and those who work in schools and right for our communities."